It was a love for beer and German-inspired food that motivated Jeremy Phillips to open Schatzi's Pub in the City of Poughkeepsie.

And just like before, it's a passion for tacos and tequila which inspired Phillips to create Milo's Cantina.

"We're not pitching ourselves as traditional Mexican cuisine," Phillips said. "But I like tequila, and I love playing around with Mexican food. We're traditionally inspired while messing around with different cuisines, including Mexican, German, American and Asian."

Milo's Cantina will open sometime in the next month at 206 Main St. in the City of Poughkeepsie, bringing a variety of hybrid tacos and tequila cocktails.

Despite Milo's being right next to Schatzi's, Phillips said he is not worried about the restaurants cannibalizing business from one another.

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A view of the bar at Milo's Cantina in the city of Poughkeepsie.(Photo: Alex H. Wagner/Poughkeepsie Journal)

"Hopefully, Milo's will be able to pick up some of the customers when Schatzi's gets especially busy on weekends," he said. "But I think both places add to making the 200 block of Main Street a destination."

And guests will still be able to find the food truck and cheeky tacos on the Schatzi's menu.

"Outside the burger, they're one of the most popular things on the menu," Phillips said, referencing the towering Schatzi's Burger.

And it's the Schatzi's burger which will serve as the basis for one of the more experimental tacos on the menu at Milo's.

"We're going to deconstruct it and turn it into a taco," Phillips said. "So we'll be taking potatoes, brisket and our special Schatzi's sauce and making something with those core ingredients.

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Jeremy Phillips, owner of Milo's Cantina and Schatzi's Pub, reaches for some tequila at the bar at Milo's.(Photo: Alex H. Wagner/Poughkeepsie Journal)

The bar will feature 119 types of tequila and mezcal as well as a cocktail menu highlighting classics like the margarita and distinct specialty drinks.

"We'll have things like a spicy paloma infused with jalapenos, and I have to give our general manager credit for coming up with the spicy avocado martini," Phillips said. "It's absolutely phenomenal, and it's not something you're going to find anywhere."